I was late. The kind of late where every second feels louder than the horn behind you. Cars barely moving. Brake lights stacked like dominoes ahead. No room to breathe, no room to think—so of course, that’s when the thoughts came. It’s funny how traffic can feel both full and completely empty. Hundreds of people, all going somewhere, and yet
I cleaned the car that morning like it was the first day of school. Vacuumed the floor, wiped the dashboard, even folded a blanket in the back seat—just in case it got cold. I knew you wouldn’t notice all the details, but I cared that they were there. When you opened the door and slid into the passenger seat, the world felt smaller. Everything
In the heart of Southeast Asia, a jungle once hid a city that rivaled ancient Rome. The Khmer Empire (802–1431 CE) built Angkor — one of the largest pre-industrial cities in the world. At its height, Angkor supported nearly a million people with vast reservoirs, canals, and temples that kissed the sky. Angkor Wat, the jewel of Khmer architec
Venice was never built to conquer land — it conquered trade. From the 8th century to 1797, the Venetian Republic stood as a maritime marvel, weaving together East and West through sail, silk, and shrewd strategy. The city floated on wooden piles, rising from a lagoon with palaces, basilicas, and winding canals. But beneath the beauty lay a powe